Chapter 165

Su Mo returned to her room, looking at the room Wu Ying had once lived in, her heart full of longing.

She opened the wardrobe. Inside were still the clothes she had once bought for Wu Ying, the white one he seldom wore but always folded neatly and kept in the cabinet.

Next to it was a scroll painting.

Su Mo picked up the scroll and unrolled it.

It turned out to be the portrait Yi had once painted of her that Wu Ying said he would keep for her. He had always kept it well preserved.

Beside the painting were five words, clearly added later by Wu Ying.

[Wife of Bai Yichen]

Su Mo covered her mouth as her eyes grew hot.

"Wu Ying, please come back...I miss you so much."

...

Wu Ying, please come back... I miss you so much.

Please come back...

I miss you...

Please come back...

I miss you...

It's Mo Mo, it's Mo Mo calling him...

Wu Ying struggled to open his eyes. All was pitch black around him, the air tainted with the rotten smell of corpses.

He tried to move but was overwhelmed by the excruciating pain shooting through his body and limbs.

Only then did he realize his tendons were cut and bones smashed, unable to move at all.

He had been mutilated and dumped at the mass graveyard.

Not far lay a blood-stained sword. Wu Ying faintly made out something on its hilt, his eyes flickering.

Bearing the agonizing pain, he crawled towards it desperately. His shattered bones pierced through his flesh as blood kept flowing, yet he seemed oblivious to the pain.

His eyes were fixed on the tassel on the sword hilt, the one Su Mo had given him! How could he allow it to be stained with so much blood?

Though only steps away, right now it felt miles beyond reach.

He didn't know how much time had passed. By now, the blood had soaked through his clothes.

Finally... he got it. Wu Ying clutched the tassel tightly and wiped the blood off it, a smile emerging at the corner of his mouth.

Suddenly, he spit out a mouthful of blood, splattering all over the tassel.

As if all strength was drained from his body, Wu Ying slowly closed his eyes.

Mo Mo... I'm sorry. What a pity I can't even see you one last time.

Wu Ying seemed to sink into a long dream where he went to Su Mo's world. No longer an assassin, he could live a normal life.

He even married Su Mo and had children. They were very happy.

Even if it was just a dream, he was already content...

Rain suddenly poured down from the sky, drenching the unclaimed corpses mercilessly.

The night, utterly bleak.

...

Standing by the window watching the rain, Su Mo felt a sudden twinge in her heart.

Clutching her chest, she frowned, tears catching her unawares and sliding down her face.

"Wu Ying... Wu Ying..."

Su Mo immediately rushed out.

Just about to go to bed, Xia Miaomiao saw Su Mo running into the rain and a sense of foreboding welled up inside her.

"Mo Mo!" Xia Miaomiao chased after her at once. Seeing this, Hua Wuyou quickly grabbed an umbrella and ran out after them.

In the yard, Su Mo pulled a horse and leaped onto its back. "Mo Mo, where are you going?" Xia Miaomiao rushed to block the horse.

Hua Wuyou came over and held the umbrella over Xia Miaomiao.

"I'm going to find Wu Ying! Miaomiao, get out of the way!" Su Mo pulled the reins, determination in her voice.

"Where do you plan to find Wu Ying in such heavy rain?"

"I feel something has happened to him. I must find him! Wuyou, pull Miaomiao aside!"

By now, the others had also been alerted and came out.

"Don't be rash, Mo Mo!"

Su Mo flicked the reins. "Get out of my way!"

In fright, Hua Wuyou grabbed Xia Miaomiao and pulled her aside!

Riding out of the courtyard, Su Mo was barely through the gates when she saw a figure on horseback galloping towards Qinglin Courtyard.

Su Mo reined in her horse at once, thinking it was Wu Ying's return.

"Wu Ying!"

Su Mo called out in pleasant surprise. The horse soon arrived at the gates where everyone saw to their astonishment that it wasn't Wu Ying but Third Madam!

Having clearly exhausted her last ounce of strength, Third Madam heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing them. She tumbled straight off the horse.

Su Mo leapt down at once and ran over to help Third Madam up. "Third Madam? Why is it you? Where is Wu Ying? Where is he?"

Deathly pale, Third Madam struggled to take out a package from her bosom and handed it to Su Mo. "Wu Ying... asked me... to pass this... to you..." Tears rolled down Su Mo's face. "Where is he? Where is he?"

Xiao Han walked over and took her pulse. "She's gravely injured. It's a miracle she made it this far. Emergency surgery is needed right away!"

"No need... I won't make it." Clutching Su Mo's sleeve, Third Madam said, "Wu Ying... tendons severed... bones smashed... dumped at the mass graveyard... no coming back..."

"What... did you say?" Su Mo's voice seemed to tremble.

"Su Mo... I once owed Wu Ying a life debt... now I've repaid it..."

A teardrop slid from the corner of Third Madam's eye as she slowly closed them.

In truth, Dark Cabinet had two other top fighters on par with Wu Ying, but these two rarely carried out missions. They were the Cabinet Master's deathsworn, tasked solely with cleaning house for Dark Cabinet.

With Wu Ying ambushed and mutilated by the two deathsworn and the rest, he was as good as dead.

In the end, they were all just pawns in the Cabinet Master's hands.

Numb with shock, Su Mo stood motionless amid the rain mixing with her tears.

It was only when they moved Third Madam inside that Su Mo finally stirred, handing the package she was holding to Sang Li. She knew it contained the treasure map.

"Mo Mo..." Eyes brimming red, Sang Li didn't know how to comfort her.

"Sis Li, I'm going to find him. If I'm not back in fourteen days, you three should go back..."

"No!" The three pulled Su Mo back at once.

"He got into this because of me. If he's dead, I will keep him company in death!"

Shaking off their hands, Su Mo leapt onto her horse and galloped off resolutely!

"Mo Mo!" Though the three gave chase, lacking martial arts, they stood no chance of catching up.

"Don't worry, I'll follow her!" Hua Wuyou came forward and said.

"Take me with you!" Xia Miaomiao quickly added. "We're the only ones who can comfort her!"

Hua Wuyou hesitated briefly before lifting Xia Miaomiao onto the horse and riding after Su Mo.

"Don't worry, Sis Li. I will definitely bring Mo Mo back!"

As the two raced off, a sudden dizzy spell hit Sang Li and she collapsed.

"Sis!" Gu Zhi caught her in time and carried her inside. Seeing this, Xiao Han also went in right away.

Naturally, Xiao Han wouldn't let Xiao Zimo diagnose Sang Li and had Gu Zhi and Xiao Zimo wait outside instead.

After checking Sang Li's pulse and examining her, Xiao Han found to his shock that she was bleeding. With the fetus in distress and spotting occurring, preventing miscarriage was imperative!

Xiao Han swiftly changed her and tucked her into bed.

The door opened as Gu Zhi anxiously asked, "How is my sister? Why did she suddenly faint?"

"Don't worry. She's fine. Sis Li is just having her menses and her body is weak. Getting caught in the rain gave her a chill. I'm going to brew some medicine for her." Xiao Han calmly explained away the situation.

Relieved, Gu Zhi said, "I see. I'll go keep her company then."

Once out the door, Xiao Han promptly shooed Xiao Zimo away too.

Preoccupied with thoughts about Wu Ying's plight, Xiao Zimo didn't notice anything amiss with Xiao Han.